About Tomato Potato Psyllid
A small striped psyllid that transmits the zebra chip disease bacterium to potato crops. It also causes psyllid yellows on tomatoes through toxic saliva injection.
Did You Know?
Zebra chip disease, which it transmits, causes dark striped patterns inside fried potato chips, rendering them unsaleable.
How to Identify Tomato Potato Psyllid
Tomato Potato Psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli) belongs to the order Hemiptera, family Triozidae. Adults typically measure 2.5-3 mm.
Tomato Potato Psyllid Habitat
Tomato Potato Psyllid is found in farmland habitats, particularly across Western North America, Central America, New Zealand. This species has adapted to thrive in its preferred environment, where it can find suitable food sources and shelter.
Tomato Potato Psyllid Diet and Feeding
Tomato Potato Psyllid feeds on plant sap by piercing stems and leaves with specialised mouthparts. Sap feeders extract nutrients directly from the plant's vascular system.
Where Is Tomato Potato Psyllid Found?
Tomato Potato Psyllid can be found in Western North America, Central America, New Zealand, where it inhabits farmland environments. Its distribution is influenced by climate, food availability, and habitat suitability.
Distribution Map
Where Tomato Potato Psyllid can be found
Is Tomato Potato Psyllid Dangerous?
Tomato Potato Psyllid is generally harmless to humans. It does not bite or sting and poses no significant health risk. Like most insects, it prefers to avoid human contact and will typically flee rather than confront a perceived threat.
Tomato Potato Psyllid Role in Nature
Tomato Potato Psyllid is part of the food web as a primary consumer, feeding on plant material. It serves as an important food source for birds, bats, amphibians, and other insectivores, connecting plant energy to higher trophic levels.
Seasonal Activity
Frequently Asked Questions About Tomato Potato Psyllid
What does Tomato Potato Psyllid look like?
The Tomato Potato Psyllid typically measures 2.5-3 mm.
Where is Tomato Potato Psyllid found?
The Tomato Potato Psyllid is found in Western North America, Central America, New Zealand and typically inhabits farmland environments.
What does Tomato Potato Psyllid eat?
The Tomato Potato Psyllid feeds on plant sap by piercing stems and leaves.
Is Tomato Potato Psyllid dangerous to humans?
The Tomato Potato Psyllid is generally harmless to humans. It does not bite or sting and poses no significant health risk.
Is Tomato Potato Psyllid endangered?
The Tomato Potato Psyllid is currently classified as Not Evaluated by conservation assessments. Habitat loss and environmental changes are among the primary threats to its population.
What is an interesting fact about Tomato Potato Psyllid?
Zebra chip disease, which it transmits, causes dark striped patterns inside fried potato chips, rendering them unsaleable.
Cite This Page
APA:
InsectDiscover. (2026). Tomato Potato Psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli). Retrieved from https://insectdiscover.com/insect/tomato-potato-psyllid
MLA:
"Tomato Potato Psyllid." InsectDiscover, https://insectdiscover.com/insect/tomato-potato-psyllid.